QCC Makes it Easier for those of African Descent to Take Advantage of Higher Education

WORCESTER, MA—July 14, 2017—Quinsigamond Community College has announced a new privately-funded scholarship, the LEADA@Liberty Scholarship, offered by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Boston, Mass. Students of African descent who are part of the Commonwealth Commitment program are eligible to apply. Four community college students of African descent will be chosen from the pool of applicants to receive the $2,500 annual scholarship for the entire four years of their college career.

The Commonwealth Commitment program is the first of its kind in the country and was developed by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to assist Massachusetts students to achieve their goals of a higher education. This innovative program is a partnership between Massachusetts colleges, universities and students, and provides financial incentives to students who begin their advanced education at one of the 15 Massachusetts community colleges. Students admitted into the Commonwealth Commitment program receive a freeze on tuition and fees for all four years upon entry into the program until they graduate or leave the program. Students will receive a 10 percent rebate off tuition and mandatory fees at the end of every successfully completed semester. In addition, students receive a MassTransfer tuition credit once they are enrolled in a bachelor’s program for a total overall savings of approximately $5,090 over four years. Students must attain an associate degree within 2.5 years and then transfer to a Massachusetts State University or one of the University of Massachusetts Campuses.

Liberty Mutual Life Insurance Company is the first private sector partner of the Commonwealth Commitment program. The scholarship was designed to help offset the cost of college for Massachusetts students who enroll in a community college, with the goal of transferring to a Massachusetts State University or one of the University of Massachusetts Campuses to attain their bachelor’s degree. The scholarship will be administered by the United Negro College Fund.

“Providing access to higher education for all has been a mission of QCC since it was founded in 1963,” said Mishawn Davis-Eyene, director of admissions at QCC. “This new scholarship opportunity provides another way in which our communities, both public and now private, are working together to reduce the financial burden that can sometimes prevent students from pursuing a higher education.”

Those chosen as LEADA@Liberty scholarship winners will also be mentored by Liberty Mutual employees and offered internships in the firm’s Boston office.

“Our goal is to reach this untapped pool of talent and we see this scholarship as a win-win for community college students, Liberty Mutual Life Insurance and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Kevin Gayle, Finance Committee Chair of Liberty Mutual’s Employees of African Descent and Allies (LEADA@Liberty) employee resource group.

For more information, contact Josh Martin, Director of Institutional Communications at 508.854.7513 or jmartin [at] qcc.mass.edu

Quinsigamond Community College is the most affordable higher education in Worcester County. As a regional leader in education and workforce development, QCC serves the diverse educational needs of Central Massachusetts by providing affordable, accessible, and high quality programming leading to transfer, career, and lifelong learning.